Whiteboard: NBA Draft Lottery winners and losers, and rethinking the 2019 NBA Draft
The NBA Draft Lottery rewarded the Spurs and left us with some other clear winners and losers. We're breaking it all down and reflecting on the 2019 Draft.The Nuggets absolutely rolled the Lakers for three quarters before a few key adjustments allowed LeBron and company to close the gap in ...
2023-05-18 03:57
Mets No. 1 prospect leaves Scott Boras for a hip-hop artist
Mets top prospect Francisco Alvarez will be singing "A Summer Without You" to Scott Boras all season long.New York Mets top-ranked prospect Francisco Alvarez is changing his representation and changing the vibes: he's dropping Scott Boras in favor of a less distinguished but more ...
2023-05-18 03:23
Packers rumors: Jordan Love could get his own Randall Cobb
In the new Jordan Love era, the Packers have been busy loading up on talent, and the team's recent plans could include giving Love a veteran target.The Green Bay Packers have lost key offensive players like Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb this offseason, but they haven't ...
2023-05-18 03:16
Eric Cantona to Joey Barton – the Premier League’s longest bans
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been suspended from football for eight months. The England international’s punishment, which will see him banned until January, comes after he admitted 232 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules. Here, the PA news agency looks at other Premier League players who have been handed lengthy bans. Joey Barton – 13 months In April 2017, when he was playing for Burnley, Barton was suspended by the FA for 18 months for placing bets on 1,260 matches between March 2006 and May 2013. Soon after, with the midfielder having been released by the Clarets, that was reduced on appeal to 13 months. Abel Xavier – 12 months The Portugal defender received an 18 month-ban from UEFA in November 2005 after testing positive for an anabolic steroid following a match for Middlesbrough against Xanthi in the UEFA Cup. The suspension was cut to a year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the summer of 2006 and Xavier resumed playing for Boro the following season. Mark Bosnich – nine months The FA gave Bosnich a nine-month suspension in April 2003 after he failed a drugs test for cocaine. The former Australia goalkeeper was fired by Chelsea and lost his appeal against the ban. Eric Cantona – eight months In one of the most memorable incidents in English football, Eric Cantona kung-fu kicked a Crystal Palace supporter having just been sent off while playing for Manchester United in 1995. The Frenchman admitted a criminal charge of assault, for which he was sentenced to community service, while also receiving a £30,000 fine and an eight-month ban by the FA. Rio Ferdinand – eight months In December 2003, following a two-day FA disciplinary hearing, Ferdinand was banned for eight months for missing a drugs test in September of that year. With an appeal failing, the suspension saw the centre-back sit out the remainder of Manchester United’s season and England’s Euro 2004 campaign. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Andy Murray swept aside by Stan Wawrinka in Bordeaux Challenger event Fit-again Jonny Bairstow ‘buzzing’ to return to England squad after ‘dark times’ McGregor’s documentary and Coric’s ice cream love – Wednesday’s sporting social
2023-05-18 02:18
Chicago Cubs rumors: 3 players who won't be on the roster by June 1
The Chicago Cubs are sure to undergo some surprising roster changes by June 1, even though it's just a few weeks away.Sitting four games under .500 in a crowded NL Central division, the Chicago Cubs need to make some changes. Despite a hot start to the season after acquiring shortstop Dansb...
2023-05-18 01:49
Eight-month ban for Brentford striker Ivan Toney after betting breaches
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been hit with an eight-month ban after admitting breaches of betting rules. Toney was charged by the Football Association last November for 262 alleged breaches over a four-year period. The 27-year-old – who made his long-awaited England debut in March – admitted to 232 of the counts, with 30 having been subsequently withdrawn. Following a personal hearing an independent regulatory commission imposed Toney’s sanctions, which included a £50,000 fine. He will not be able to play until January 17, 2024, but can train with Brentford from September 17. “Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January 2024, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of the FA’s betting rules,” an FA statement read. “The Brentford FC forward was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232. “His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent regulatory commission following a personal hearing. He is permitted to return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension starting from 17 September 2023.” The written reasons behind the decision of the independent regulatory commission are to be published “in due course” and will be reviewed by both the FA and Brentford. The Bees chose to make no further comment and will be “considering our next steps”, which could include an appeal against the suspension. Toney scored 20 Premier League goals for the Bees this season, but will now sit out the remaining two matches – at Tottenham and then home to leaders Manchester City – as Thomas Frank’s side look to consolidate a top-10 finish. The loss of Toney, though, is likely to be more keenly felt at the start of the next campaign. Speaking last December following the announcement of the FA’s charges, Frank had been questioned on what the club might do should Toney end up facing a lengthy suspension. “We don’t have anything specific lined up if something should happen,” Frank said. “We are always in the market, we always try to improve the squad so, of course, we are aware of players out there and we have a plan we are following, but no specific one for potentially replacing Ivan.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Fit-again Jonny Bairstow ‘buzzing’ to return to England squad after ‘dark times’ James Milner and Roberto Firmino among four leaving Liverpool this summer McGregor’s documentary and Coric’s ice cream love – Wednesday’s sporting social
2023-05-18 01:27
James Milner and Roberto Firmino among four leaving Liverpool this summer
James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita will all leave Liverpool when their contracts expire at the end of the season. Milner and Firmino joined the Reds in June 2015 and both played in the 2019 Champions League final victory over Tottenham. Oxlade-Chamberlain arrived in June 2017 and Keita the following summer, with the quartet all playing their part in the Reds’ Premier League title win in the 2019-20 campaign. A Liverpool statement said: “We can confirm Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts this summer. “Special acknowledgements will be paid to the quartet at Anfield, with further tributes to follow at the end of the season.” Milner, 37, has been linked with moves to Brighton and hometown club Leeds after spending eight years at Anfield. He made his Premier League debut for Leeds aged 16 in 2002 and also had spells at Newcastle, Aston Villa and Manchester City before joining Liverpool in 2015. He has made 617 Premier League appearances in total, behind only Gareth Barry (652) and Ryan Giggs (632) on the all-time list. The midfielder overtook Frank Lampard when making his 610th top-flight appearance early last month in a 0-0 draw at Chelsea. Liverpool signed Milner on a free transfer from City, with whom he won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the League Cup during his five years at at the Etihad Stadium. In his eight seasons with Liverpool, he won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup and made the last of his 61 appearances for England in 2016. Firmino has scored 109 goals in all competitions for the Reds since joining from Hoffenheim, including 11 in 33 games this season. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Fit-again Jonny Bairstow ‘buzzing’ to return to England squad after ‘dark times’ Eight-month ban for Brentford striker Ivan Toney after betting breaches McGregor’s documentary and Coric’s ice cream love – Wednesday’s sporting social
2023-05-18 01:15
Man City vs Real Madrid LIVE: Latest updates and team news from Champions League semi-final
The second Champions League semi-final is delicately poised between Manchester City and Real Madrid after the teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg last week. An enthralling encounter in Spain saw Pep Guardiola’s side dominate possession throughout the first half before Vinicius Junior sent Madrid ahead before the break. Carlo Ancelotti’s men then looked to press their advantage before Kevin De Bruyne equalised with a fine strike from outside the box. City will now hope their home crowd can give them a boost as they look to get over the line in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium. Madrid staged a late comeback against City in the semi-finals of last year’s competition and Guardiola will be keen for his side avoid a similar fate this evening. Although City have home advantage Madrid are European specialists, they have a quality forward line and are brilliant on the counter-attack, for the hosts to win this tie they will need to reach their best levels and maintain those standards for the duration of the clash. Whoever wins will then face Inter Milan in the final on the 10th June after they defeated AC Milan last night. Follow all the action as Manchester City host Real Madrid in the Champions League: Read More ‘My legacy is exceptional’: Pep Guardiola refuses to be defined by Champions League Ancelotti reveals what will decide Real Madrid’s ‘unpredictable’ clash with Man City Accident or design? Inter Milan’s thrilling triumph underlines concerning trend
2023-05-18 00:53
PGA Championship predictions 2023: 5 last-minute bold predictions for Oak HIll
Last-minute 2023 PGA Championship predictions of the bold variety as we take a look at what will happen at Oak Hill less than 24 hours before the start.In less than 24 hours, 2003 champion at Oak Hill, Shaun Micheel, will take to the first tee at the spot of his lone major championship victory t...
2023-05-18 00:51
Charlotte Hornets: 3 perfect combinations for their pair of 1st-round picks
The Charlotte Hornets have two picks in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Here are three prospect combinations they should target.The 2023 NBA Draft lottery ended with mingled heartbreak and euphoria for fans of the Charlotte Hornets. On one hand, Victor Wembanyama was oh so close -- just o...
2023-05-18 00:46
Why Mark Vientos' call-up is too little, too late for Mets
Top prospect Mark Vientos has been mashing down in AAA; but did the New York Mets ultimately wait too long to call him up?At 20-23, inexplicably in fourth place in the National League East, Steve Cohen's handsomely-paid Mets are one of the laughingstocks of MLB right now.The low-payroll...
2023-05-18 00:45
Ivan Toney banned for eight months over betting breaches
Brentford forward Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for eight months, the Football Association has announced. Toney was charged by the FA in November for 262 alleged breaches of betting rules over a four-year period and has now discovered his punishment. Bees forward Toney will be banned until January 16th and has been fined £50,000 after he admitted to 232 of the alleged breaches. “Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January 2024, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules,” an FA statement read. “The Brentford FC forward was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232. “ An independent regulatory commission imposed Toney’s sanctions and he will not be allowed to train with his Brentford team-mates until September 17. The one-cap England forward has scored 21 goals in 35 appearances for Brentford this season. The FA statement continued: “His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing. He is permitted to return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension starting from 17 September 2023. “The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course, and The FA will wait to review them before commenting further.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-05-18 00:28